Binder ‘super happy’ with Styrian P4, overcomes ‘way too weak’ front tyre

Last lap overtakes on Johann Zarco and Takaaki Nakagami sees Brad Binder complete another stunning comeback to P4 at the Styrian MotoGP.

The South African twice had to start from 16th due to a red flag on lap three of race one, and on both occasions overcame severe overheating problems with the front tyre. 

It’s the same issues that have plagued his qualifying performances throughout the 2021 season so far. 

Binder’s comeback through the field from 16th was eerily similar to Sachsenring three rounds ago, as he started 16th on that occasion and finished P4 again. 

The first race start proved to be the most challenging for Binder as ‘I almost crashed on the lap to the grid’.

"It was a difficult start to the first race. I had some problems off the start and I don’t know why. For some reason I felt like I had no tyre temperature on the front; I almost crashed on the lap going to the grid and then I was really nervous obviously with the front on the first lap," said the KTM rider.  

"It felt like I was riding in the wet. I ended up going off track a little bit and went just over the green and a little bit onto the gravel and was about 21st I think. 

"I passed a few guys and was then 16th two or three laps later before I saw the incident with Dani [Pedrosa]."

As was the case for riders such as Nakagami and Alex Marquez, the second race start certainly proved to be more successful even though front tyre issues remained for Binder. 

Binder added: "After the red flag I got a much better start in the second race. I struggled a lot with the front the whole way through though. 

"The front tyre is just really way too weak for us; we don’t have enough support in any of the braking zones and the entries, so the limits of the front are so low for us that you have to be so careful not to cross it. 

"As soon as the tyre starts to overheat I couldn’t stop the bike anymore and kept losing the front. 

"I had to stay really clever just to keep the tyre there and not crash. At the end of the race - once it spread out and I wasn’t as much in the slipstream, it cooled off a little bit and got better. 

"All in all I’m super happy to finish in fourth position. Starting 16th is not okay, but to come back and at least finish fourth, it tops off the first weekend well. We need to find something to qualify better."